route_1065 | You may be lost in more ways than one

You may be lost in more ways than one

Who: Varric Tethras and YOU!!
Where: Violet City and its outskirts
When: Anytime from March 8 to the end of the month (probably, he has no plans; it's a small city and there's a ~~tavern~~ bar he's happy)
Summary: Basically a catch-all log for most of March. Feel free to reply to either of the preset starters, arrange for a custom one, or toss me your own!
Rating: The only thing it might hit PG-13 for is language, tbh
Log:

A
Varric had never so much as had a pet nug growing up, for all that he can pull strings and run a complex network of contacts and "favors," and never has that been more obvious than watching him train his party. Which mostly involves him running off after wherever Sparkler has decided to fuck off to this time, with Champion the Fletchling and his newest addition Fussy the Gligar flying alongside. While Champion is perfectly cooperative, Fussy shies away from battle - and indeed, from just about anything bigger than his new trainer, which is most people and a fair amount of pokemon - and Sparkler does what he wants.

Which in this case involves going up to a stranger to demand attention with an insistent "Fen!" while swishing his fluffy tail proudly like a battle standard.

B
In the late afternoon, Varric can be found in the bar. While his stories don't draw the same thrall from NPCs here that he's used to back home, he's made himself cosy at a table in the corner anyway, where he holds court with the grizzled Hikers and well-traveled Backpackers, trading stories and new card games (new for him, anyway, and much less complex than Wicked Grace) for a few coins. His Gligar is perched on the back of his chair, talons gripping the wood, while his Fennekin dozes curled in a ball underneath the table and his Fletchling pecks at the bowl of peanuts on the table. There's a large, dark green egg peeking out of his backpack next to his chair.

"My brother had all these guards ready to keep me from getting to him, but lucky for me I had Bianca- and I knew that she could take on anything they had to throw at us..."

or C: make your own! (or ask for one)

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[Ashley most definitely is not in the bar to get drunk. This isn't suspiciously specific denial, this is just actual fact, she's a bit of a square. Quite frankly, being allowed into a bar is kind of strange for her, but apparently 18 is the cut-off for alcohol and other such activities- and Ashley is very curious by design.

So here she is, drinking juice, not alcohol, and taking a look around the are and-

There is a familiar voice. Ashley stops in excitement. Her dear little Zubat Bram snuggles into her neck, as usual, while her Litwick Agatha and her Luxio Nala hang near her legs. Does she dare approach? Ohhh. Ohhhh...

...She dares.]

Hello, Varric, sir! [Smooth Ashley.]

[Varric's engrossed in telling his story, rich voice easily weaving the familiar details with new embellishments. But when he hears his name, he pauses and sits up straight, grinning when he sees who spoke.]

Rosy! Join me, you're just in time for the best part!

[He opens his arms in a welcoming gesture, then pats the table in front of an empty chair next to him. Fussy appraises his fellow flying-type nervously, while Sparkler lifts his head and looks at Nala and Agatha with haughty curiosity.]

[And she's still Rosy. She will be Rosy forever, sigh. Ashley sends a nervous grin (it's one thing to see him over her PokéGear, but another in-person, oh!!) and a tiny wave as she approaches; it's a rather odd sight, considering all the tall, muscled men Varric's regaling with his tales, but she goes with it.]

I'm not very fond of jumping into a story midway but I can maybe make an exception this one time.

[As for the Pokémon, Bram lets out a tiny skitter (right next to her ear, really Bram?) to Fussy, a sweet noise from a sweet bat, and Agatha almost bounces from wax-foot to wax-foot, a friendly but challenging action. Nala, very done with all of them, just sweets her tail in front of Agatha.]

[Hikers are an obliging bunch, and a couple of them scoot back to make room for her. Even knowing he's a dwarf, Varric is probably smaller than she expects; his feet don't reach the ground in the chair he's sitting in, for one, but he's clearly too old and too used to hanging around with humans to be bothered by height differences at this point.]

You can stop me if you've heard this one.

[He gives her a wink. Well, she said she knew about his adventures.]

[His legs! So short- oh wow, this is so utterly cool for her, meeting a real dwarf...!! She appears a little sheepish and takes a sip of her juice.]

We'll see. I promise I won't interrupt.

[Varric takes a swig from his ale before he continues the story.]

So anyway, Bartrand's goons tried all attacking me at once, but of course... Bianca wasn't going to have any of that. And when they'd all run off licking their wounds, there he was. My traitor brother.

'Oh, Varric, please. Don't hurt me, I only left you in that cave because I was jealous of how strong and handsome you are, and how everybody's always liked you more...' Now, of course, all this simpering was just pathetic, right? Even Bianca didn't want anything to do with it. So I looked Bartrand straight in his squinty, Rattata face, and I took off my pack, and I said:

'Don't worry, Brother. No harm done. But you know, you left so quickly you didn't get the full cave experience.'

[One of the Hikers winced already in sympathy, another grinned knowingly. Varric paused for dramatic effect, glancing at Ashley out of the corner of his eye.]

And then I emptied out my backpack and let loose the thirty-some Zubat I'd caught while we were stuck in that cave.

[It takes a minute for the Hikers' guffawing to die down, but they begin to disperse almost as soon as the story reaches its satisfying conclusion, knowing two PCs when they see them and leaving the storyteller and his friend alone at the table. Still, the bar is far from quiet, and there are occasional snatches of phrases like "thirty-some Zubat" that come back around.]

[As he continues his story, Ashley covers her mouth with her hand, because she has the growing suspicion that this isn't exactly factual. Gotta keep her face covered, she's so bad at lying! Can't let these people know--

With the Pokémon references, and mentioning a Zubat, Bram pokes his head up and then, as if he's the one being talked about, sinks so his little wings wrap about Ashley's shoulder's, as if he's all embarrassed. Aw, Bram honey.

With the group all cheering and laughing, she's able to uncover and join in. Yes, everyone, fun. That's right, awkwardly laughing. ...How nice of the ~~NPCs~~ natives to give them time alone, and once she's sure they're that she lowers her voice and-]

So, how much of that was based on facts?

[Varric leans in from his smug surveyance of watching the story dissipate amongst the locals.]

I wish I could have just unleashed a bunch of bats in Bartrand's house.

[Then he stops, and grins.]

You know, that's a new one. I'll have to remember that for- ...later.

[He notices the Zubat, then, and reaches out to take a peanut from Champion's bowl (the Fletchling chirps in agitation, to which Varric responds fondly "if you eat the whole bowl you're not going to be able to leave the ground"), holding it out between his fingers as a peace offering.]

No offense, little guy.

[A small giggle. Ashley reaches up and scratches her Zubat behind the ear. He lets out a noise much like a purr and reaches forward to take the peanut. Chomp chomp chomp, how good.]

I'm sure he knows you don't mean it. Bram doesn't have a mean bone in his body. [She's grown...fond of this bat that she first screamed at the sight of.]

You really are...adaptable, you know. Not only a story, but one with Pokémon references included.

[Varric leans back in his chair again once the offering is accepted, watching the little bat nibble. Fussy leans down and rubs his exoskeleton against Varric's jaw, and Varric scratches the little guy between the plates.]

I wouldn't have made it half as far as I have if I couldn't play to my audience.

[Always humble. Kind of.]

I've been purposefully vague on what kind Bianca's counterpart is, though. I guess I just haven't found one that reminds me of her yet.

Oh, of course, the natural talent of a storyteller. [She continues to rub Bram behind the ears.]

She's... Let me know if the...stories I've heard have any truth to them, Bianca's...a crossbow, right?

[Agatha's climbed the chairs and invaded the peanut bowl, meanwhile...]

[Champion glances at the Litwick, then sighs and makes room. Varric runs two fingers lightly over the little bird's feathers, earning a pleased little chirp in the process.]

That's her. She's one-of-a-kind; gotten me out of my fair share of trouble.

[Agatha just starts daintily eating peanuts.]

Such a shame that you don't have her with you. ...You don't, right?

[You know, you just gotta check sometimes.]

It would take the "fun" out of training these guys if I had Bianca with me to watch my back.

[He's trying to sound less bitter about this than he really is, honest.

...He's really salty about it tho.]

My guess is she's right where I left her. Which, so long as nothing changes back home while I'm here, isn't so bad. At least she's not in danger.

Far as I know, no time passes! [Sips juice.] So you should be fine, really. You'll be able to reunite with your beloved once you return.

Much as I'm enjoying the change of scenery, I've got to say it'll be good to go home.

Anyway, Rosy. Since it seems you know all my stories, does California have any good tales to tell? It doesn't have to be one of your own if you don't want to, Maker knows it's hard to just spin something on the spot like that.

[She doesn't seem to have the years of practice at complete and utter bullshit.]

But you know, your favorite story. The one you know by heart.

[With her glass at her lips, she freezes.]

Oh. Uh. Like- ...just something I've heard? Something...easy to tell, fun to hear? Not necessarily something I've seen or done or...that's happened to someone I know?

[This doesn't sound tense; just questioning, clarifying what he wants to hear.]

[Varric pauses, hand halfway to his tankard, and gives her a glance, then a reassuring smile as he takes the handle in hand and leans back in his chair.]

Sure, just whatever story you like best. Doesn't have to be real. I figure you've had a lot less years than I have to gather weird experiences.

Hmm... Well, let's see. It's kind of hard to tell you about, like, a whole novel series. [Sheepish grin.]

So how about... Ohh, there was that one fairy tale- it's called Tamlane, and it's about fairies...

[And then she proceeds to tell him the story of Tamlane.]

[The old rogue has heard a lot of love stories in his time, but he's an attentive listener regardless. In the end, he gives her a grin.]

Nothing beats hearing someone tell one of their old favorites. I liked that the queen didn't have to be totally, baby-eatingly evil, she just didn't want to give up her knight. But true love triumphs and the girl gets her boy. You're a natural, Rosy.

[Ashley's about to say something about true love and heroines and a determined protagonist, but then, true to her Varric-assigned nickname, she blushes at the compliment.]

Wh- what? Nnnoo, not me. I- I get horrible stage fright, you know? I'm not really a person to give speeches or, act, I just get caught up in really good stories sometimes.

[Blake's come down to Violet for some fresh air, so, naturally, he's ended up in a bar. He's over in a corner nursing a beer while Steve Buscemi plays cat's cradle with some string she found somewhere.

The short guy at the bar is doing a whole lot of talking. Eventually Blake can't help calling over.]

You had a lady fighting for you?

[Usually that's not the kind of thing people brag about.]

[Lucky for Varric, his "flock" thins slightly so that he can see the heckler. He shrugs, tone nonchalant.]

Hey, Bianca and I have a special relationship. Besides, she wasn't fighting for me, she was fighting with me. Bianca is a fine lady, but she's not afraid to play rough.

[Because she's a crossbow.]

Well, that's different. Shoulda said so.

[He gestures at him with his beer.]

Which one of you ended up beating up your brother?

[Varric gestures right back, index finger raised along the side of his tankard.]

Now, now, you can't rush the best part of the story.

So, me and Bianca are taking down guys left, right and center, until finally: Bwoosh! she shoots a Flamethrower right through the doorway, and there's one, two, three, four Pawniard that hit the floor. And behind them all, who should it be but my coward of a brother.

'Ohhh, please don't hurt me, Varric,' he moaned. 'I was just jealous. I could never compete with you for Mother's love. You're just so much smarter, and more roguishly handsome than I am...'

[Blake has heard a whole lot of stories of exploits in his day. Usually about violence, and usually from guys behind bars who want you to worry about when they're back on the other side.]

All right, I'll buy the lady with the flamethrower, but I'm calling bullshit on the dialogue.

Sorry, pal, "that lady" is way outta your league.

[Alright, buddy, you wanna banter? Let's banter.

As he nonchalantly quaffs from his tankard.]

[Blake gestures with his beer at him.]

Any lady who can handle a flamethrower can make up her own mind about that.

[At that, Varric actually laughs.]

Well, she made up her mind years ago. And I'd like to see the guy brave enough - or stupid enough - to try to make her change it.

[Blake snorts, amused despite himself.]

All right, all right, I'm not trying to steal your girlfriend. But the line about your brother calling you roguishly handsome is still bullshit.

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You may be lost in more ways than one

03/10 B

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B

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